Yellow line:- B grade, T3 or Trial 3

[Doubleblip]

Very interesting discussion, I wanted to chime in. Winesy and others raise some very good points.
Sections setting standard has always been quite a challenge and impossible to please 100% of riders. From previous experience, good section setting (i.e standard and also how well it can be 'read') only comes with some years experience of riding and also setting. It is sometimes difficult for new comers to the sport to read sections, and even harder for them to set decent sections.

Its always hard to find enough people to set sections, so I really try not to be critical of section setters, they do a pretty good and hard job almost all the time. Its a big time sacrifice to set sections.

In terms of riders stagnating in C grade, its a hard one, most of those riders Id say are quite happy to stay there, there will only be a handful motivated and keen enough to want to improve and challenge themselves to ride B grade sections and also practise B grade stuff. We don't want to force people up to B grade, I agree with Kurt on that.

In some trials in Vic the Yellow line sections are very easy (maybe slightly harder than C +, but in other sections they are proper B grade standard which I think is how it should be.
If we really want accurate feedback, the Trials community in each state need to conduct a simple online survey to obtain peoples thoughts. At the same time ask people do they wish to be considered for re grading, or not bother.
In this same survey, we really need to ask some hard questions about the health of the sport to again get riders opinions on many questions such as licensing, affordability, Problem attracting and keeping juniors involved, section standards, coaching, and the big question AMA v MA. Unfortunately In Vic the entry numbers in trials in 2022 (except Glenmaggie) particularly 2022, have been worryingly low. I think most people would easily recognise the MA / AMA licensing situation has sadly created a bit of a divide in the sport, where not that many riders choose and commit financially to riding both MA and AMA events. This results in low trial entries simple as that. Not sure if this is occurring in other states ?

We all really enjoy having observers at events (we used to take it for granted not that long ago !) but things have changed. In my humble opinion low entry numbers is probably the most concerning issue the Trials community needs to talk about and address.
I just think the the sport is too small to sustain med to long term having two licensing bodies......
Sorry ended up writing way more than i intended !

[eagle]

I remember a mate in the 90's was cleaning up C grade & was promoted to B grade, the first trial he DNFed, he said the upgrade from C was rediculous, B grade does seem to be a big jump from C & A doesn't seem to be that big a jump up, 1 way to fix this would be, to lower A & B a tad which might get more riders in each class & only a few riders reach Expert/green level ?

The other alternative would be to lower B & A a tad & have a B+ & A+ which would be what A & B are now, the only problem with this is the setting out of the sections would get a bit more involved ?

[Greg Harding]

Hi Everyone,

...........I just think the the sport is too small to sustain med to long term having two licensing bodies......
Sorry ended up writing way more than i intended !

After following this post since Peter first started it, I wanted to get a feel for opinions before commenting. Having said that, I disagree that there is a problem with two licensing bodies! AMA forming is the single most best thing to happen to Trials in many a year...Choice is a good thing!
1) Riders who enter to simply join in with Mates can choose to do exactly that.
2) Riders who enter to be competitive can choose to do that.
3) People with an agenda can choose to step up on their soapbox and say what they like.
4) We can all choose whether or not to laugh at them!
5) You guessed it, whingers can choose to whinge and it seems will whinge about anything. Go back to 4)
So in my opinion, Choice is a good thing!

Now back to what Peter is talking about, I am with you Peter in YELLOW line being a bit hard and I really enjoy "C" Plus, Division 4 or half "B" half "C" whatever you want to call it?

Some clubs do it better than others like most things I suppose, it seems it depends on the agenda?
Denman Trials Club does the level of difficulty in every grade extremely well, straight YELLOW is my choice there and surprise surprise, it is the most competitive class! Watching the reworking of Sections at the end of the first day in a 2 day Trial is mindboggling! The communication between representatives of each grade and the Section setters along with their Duty of Care is inspirational.

Anyway I have said my piece and it is Ride Day, so I am Choosing to go for a ride, maybe practice a little to try and beat PeterW when we catch up?

[Jools]

Hobson's ?

[BennyD]

Hi all.

I am relatively new to the sport of trials and currently ride in the classic class. I try to always be involved in the setting of the sections as I enjoy the club participation.

I could only suggest that more people get involved in the setting of sections, particularly for the higher grades. I'm sure the more input we get from everyone, the more the sections can be set to cater for all skill levels. Anyone is welcome at section setting.

Benny

[Trialrider]

I don't normally get involved in these types of discussions, but I'll throw my 2 cents in.

I've ridden B grade/T3 in QLD off and on since 2005. I had a break for about 7 years from 2012. In 2003/2004 I spent 2 seasons crashing my brains out in A grade/expert hence why I dropped back to B.

I'm pretty competitive in T3 at the moment but I'm nudging 40 so I have no desire to go up a grade to T2. However I feel the gap between T4 and T3 is much bigger. I think that's where the problem lies. T4 has a pretty high average age in QLD. Yes there will be a few juniors coming through but those who put the practice in and have natural ability will be progressing in due time. Those who are 50+ riding T4 probably have no desire to go up to the next grade.

I think it all boils down to section severity. No one wants to go and loose 100 points over 40 sections. It wouldn't matter if the top 3 in each grade were all under 10 points for the day. At the end of the day it's an amateur sport and we need more riders at events.

There's a lot of trials bikes out there that never see a trials event and it makes you wonder why.

[Jools]

"Gone are the days when the sections where (sic) to (sic) hard you put your front wheel into the section and take a 5"

Err, why is that mate?

[sybella]

Jools , if all sections where easy then there would be no advancement in that grade .You have to have some sections that are at the level of the next grade, not everyone can get through all the sections . Hence 3 easy ,3 medium , 3 hard. At some point the rider just coming into a higher grade has to know there are a couple of sections they can't do. ie put your front wheel into the section and take a 5. I get it that some riders just want to stay in the same grade ,so be prepared for 3 sections to be hard. Or make all sections easy and have no one moving forward. I don't get (sic) is that a Victorian thing. Cheers Baxy

[Rod]

(sic) to (sic) would be Jools trying to highlight or quote a portion of your previous post, I think.

[TerrY]

(sic) is a standard English language comment indicating " Spelling InCorrect ".